Although James is in fact the leader of the church in Jerusalem, he doesn’t present himself as such in this letter. He presents himself as “a bond-servant of God”. Each Israelite could have repeated that after him, for in the essence each Israelite was a bond-servant. To James that was not an uncomfortable subjection to God, but he mentions it as a privilege.
Then he calls himself also a bond-servant “of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Not each Israelite could and wanted to repeat that after him. James indeed calls himself like that and also here it sounds that he finds it an honor to be a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus. If you then also consider that he is a brother of the Lord Jesus according to the flesh [Gal 1:19], it is absolutely very striking that he calls himself like that.
With him you do not notice anything of the popular spirit that talks about ‘Jesus’ as if He was a friend from the street. He calls the name of the Man, Who was born of the same mother as he was, with great respect. He did not always have that respect. During the life of the Lord Jesus James did not believe in Him as the One Who was sent by God [John 7:5]. That changed when the Lord Jesus appeared to him after His resurrection [1Cor 15:7]. At least, it is very probable that this appearance has been the cause of his conversion.
Besides, you see that James puts God and the Lord Jesus on the same level by calling himself both a bond-servant of God and a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus. He honors the Son like he honors the Father [John 5:23].
James writes to “the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad”. Peter also writes to those who are scattered abroad [1Pet 1:1], but then only to the believing Jews, those who are born again [1Pet 1:23]. James writes to the total.
With a brief “greetings” he expresses his fellowship with them. Greeting somebody or conveying greetings to somebody speaks of fellowship. This word is actually a wish that the other person may rejoice and is happy (the word only appears in [Acts 15:23]; [Acts 23:26]; [Jas 1:1].
Then he calls himself also a bond-servant “of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Not each Israelite could and wanted to repeat that after him. James indeed calls himself like that and also here it sounds that he finds it an honor to be a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus. If you then also consider that he is a brother of the Lord Jesus according to the flesh [Gal 1:19], it is absolutely very striking that he calls himself like that.
With him you do not notice anything of the popular spirit that talks about ‘Jesus’ as if He was a friend from the street. He calls the name of the Man, Who was born of the same mother as he was, with great respect. He did not always have that respect. During the life of the Lord Jesus James did not believe in Him as the One Who was sent by God [John 7:5]. That changed when the Lord Jesus appeared to him after His resurrection [1Cor 15:7]. At least, it is very probable that this appearance has been the cause of his conversion.
Besides, you see that James puts God and the Lord Jesus on the same level by calling himself both a bond-servant of God and a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus. He honors the Son like he honors the Father [John 5:23].
James writes to “the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad”. Peter also writes to those who are scattered abroad [1Pet 1:1], but then only to the believing Jews, those who are born again [1Pet 1:23]. James writes to the total.
With a brief “greetings” he expresses his fellowship with them. Greeting somebody or conveying greetings to somebody speaks of fellowship. This word is actually a wish that the other person may rejoice and is happy (the word only appears in [Acts 15:23]; [Acts 23:26]; [Jas 1:1].
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2023-02-23 Source: Title: James Copyright: kingcomments.com Note General: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author or the publisher. |
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-8
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
 | Author: Mina Dimitri Rank: Priest Posted on: 2023-01-26 |
St. James did not mention that he was related to the Lord Jesus in flesh, but calls himself “a servant.” We know that a slave or a servant did not have any right or authority over his body, his will, wife or children, but his master has the right to manage all his affairs, according to the master’s wishes. Hence, St. James loves the Lord Jesus to the extent of considering himself a slave to Him. He rejoices to let the Beloved do whatever He likes with him, this is slavery but not against his will but in love and submission.
These are the feelings of those who love the Holy Trinity. Seeing the Father opening His bosom for His children, the Son accepting them as His own bride, and the Holy Spirit becoming His temple. They sing in the bosom of the Holy Trinity in complete submission as servants. So everyone says with St. James, “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This saying reveals the greatness of St. James’ love for the Lord and worshiping Him in true humility.
These are the feelings of those who love the Holy Trinity. Seeing the Father opening His bosom for His children, the Son accepting them as His own bride, and the Holy Spirit becoming His temple. They sing in the bosom of the Holy Trinity in complete submission as servants. So everyone says with St. James, “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This saying reveals the greatness of St. James’ love for the Lord and worshiping Him in true humility.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-23 Source: Title: The Epistle of St. James Year (original): 2001 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 73 Translation: Ferial Moawad |
James, a servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some have doubted whether the author of this epistle was St. James, the apostle, because he does not call himself an apostle. By the same weak argument we might reject all the three epistles of St. John and his Apocalypse, and the epistle of St. Jude. Nor does St. Paul give himself this title in those to the Thessalonians, to the Philippians, to Philemon, or to the Hebrews. — To the twelve tribes, which are dispersed. Literally, which are in the dispersion. That is, to the Jews converted in all nations. — Greetings. (1) Literally, salvation. Which comprehendeth much the same as, when St. Paul says, grace, peace, mercy, &c. (Witham)
Footnote
(1) Salutem, chairein, salvari, salvos esse.
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
Do not err, my brethren.
Do not err, my brethren.
 | Author: Ignatius of Antioch Rank: Bishop AD: 108 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
